As a product manager, one of the most important tasks is to keep the team focused and aligned on the most critical activities. When a team is spread thin, working on too many things at once, they can become overwhelmed, leading to decreased productivity and a loss of direction.
On the other hand, when the team is focused on a small number of well-defined objectives, they can make significant progress, build momentum, and achieve great results.
I'd like to explore the importance of keeping the team focused on as few activities as possible and provide some tips on how to accomplish this.
Why focus is crucial
When a team is focused on a small number of activities, they can:
Make faster progress: With fewer activities to work on, the team can make faster progress on each one. They have the time and resources to dive deeper into each task and make meaningful contributions.
Improve quality: By focusing on a smaller number of activities, the team can also improve the quality of their work. They have the time to think through each task more carefully, identify potential roadblocks, and make adjustments as needed.
Build momentum: As the team makes progress on each task, they build momentum and confidence. This creates a virtuous cycle where they are motivated to work harder and more effectively.
Stay aligned: When the team is focused on a small number of activities, they are more likely to stay aligned with the company's goals and mission. This is because they are all working towards the same objectives, rather than pursuing different initiatives that may not be aligned with the company's vision.
Tips for keeping the team focused
How can a product manager keep a team focused on as few activities as possible? Here are some tips:
Prioritize: Start by prioritizing the most critical activities for your team. Focus on the activities that will have the biggest impact on your product goals or are best aligned with the product strategy.
Communicate: Make sure that everyone on the team is aware of the priorities and why they are important! Regularly communicate with the team about the status of each activity and how they are contributing to the product objectives.
Limit work in progress: Make sure that the team is only working on a limited number of activities at any given time. Encourage them to finish one task before starting another. This is not easy! It's too easy to let yourself be influenced by stakeholders to start working on new efforts so that they feel heard. Resist this easy road and explain that limiting WIP actually lets the team deliver results faster.
Use visual aids: Visual aids, such as a Kanban board, can help the team stay focused on their priorities. This allows them to see what they need to work on and what they have already completed.
Foster a culture of focus: Finally, create a culture where focus is valued and encouraged. Encourage your team to focus on their work and discourage distractions.
Work in Progress
Regarding Point 3 above -
Work in progress refers to the number of tasks that a team is working on simultaneously. When a team has too many tasks in progress, it can lead to several problems, including:
Context switching: When a team switches between tasks frequently, it can take them longer to complete each task. They need time to refocus and re-orient themselves to the new task, which can slow down their overall progress.
Increased stress: When a team has too many tasks in progress, it can lead to increased stress and burnout. This can lead to decreased motivation, productivity, and overall well-being.
Decreased focus: When a team is working on too many tasks at once, they can become overwhelmed and lose focus. This can lead to mistakes, missed deadlines, and decreased overall progress.
Delays: When a team is working on too many tasks at once, it can lead to delays in completing each task. This can lead to a backlog of work and slow down overall progress towards product objectives.
Too often, it seems like working on several things at the same time will create more progress and help the team delivery faster. This is a dangerous mistake. One of the reasons that we choose to be agile is to deliver quickly in order to get feedback. When a team focuses on one thing at a time, each item can be delivered as quickly as possible. The product team can start getting feedback while the team starts on the next feature. The team has delivered value quickly, which is one of our main objectives!
On the other hand, if the team is engaged in several efforts at the same time, none of them are delivered quickly. No value is delivered until much later and product has no access to early feedback.
Keeping the team focused on as few activities as possible is crucial for productivity, quality, and success. By prioritizing, communicating, limiting work in progress, using visual aids, and fostering a culture of focus, you can help your team achieve their goals and drive the success of your company.